Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
Introduced perennial warm season bunch grass. Grows 3-6′ tall, stems growing from extensively creeping scaly rhizomes. The blades are flat, blue-green and often splotched with purple caused by a bacterial disease. The panicles are large, open with branchlets mostly in whorls of four. The awns soon fall leaving shiny, fuzzy fruit. Grows in fields and waste places. Under certain growth conditions produces prussic acid which is poisonous to livestock.
Adaptation: Widely adapted, grows best on heavier soils but performs moderately well on fine sandy loams. Responds well to fertility.
Uses: Fair grazing for wildlife, good grazing for livestock. Used for hay, grazing and erosion control provides good cover and seed provide excellent food source for dove and quail.
